Petar Koriški (in Serbian: Петар Коришки; lived in the 13th century) was the first anachoretic saint of Medieval Kingdom of Serbia, who lived in a cave on Rusenica mountain, part of the Šar Mountains range, where he gained fame as an ascetic wonderworker among his people.[1] The Serbian Orthodox Church now venerates him on 5 June (Julian Calendar).
He was born in Ujmir, a village south-west of Peja and died in Koriša, which is located in Kosovo. Petar and his sister, after the death of their parents, joined a monastic community and later both became hermits.[2] It is said that Petar healed those who sought his help and his fame spread with the ensuing years, transforming into the "Cult of Petar of Koriša."[3]
His rock-cut monastery is also known as the Hermitage of St. Peter of Koriša.
Petar Koriški was the only saint that was neither a state ruler nor head of the Church, though an exception was made in his case by the Serbian Orthodox Church.[4] [3]
In the next century, Teodosije the Hilandarian popularized Petar in his 1310 realistic work titled "The Life of Petar of Koriša." Teodosije's narrative demonstrated the characteristics of a novel.[5] [6]